Total Complaints
58 filings
FORD CROWN VICTORIA · model year
1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
58 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990FORDCROWN VICTORIA carries 58 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 9 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 CROWN VICTORIA is vehicle speed control with 7 filings, followed by air bags:frontal:sensor/control module (4) and structure:body:door (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1990 CROWN VICTORIA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
58
Complaints
7
Crashes
9
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030123SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#98V32000 LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLEDED. TS
20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THE GASKET ON THE OIL PAN FAILED CAUSING A SERIOUS LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART AT NO CHARGE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ANOTHER OIL PAN GASKET LEAK, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART AGAIN.*JB
20020308FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARTED NEAR FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP BECAUSE POWER WENT OUT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP SENDER ASSEMBLY. *AK
20020308FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARTED NEAR FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP BECAUSE POWER WENT OUT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP SENDER ASSEMBLY. *AK
20010904AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 90 E 043 001 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20001026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE HAS STALLED 3 DAYS IN A ROW. DEALER WILL AGREE TO FIX VEHICLE AT THE CONSUMER'S COST. BUT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK THE IGNITION MODULE IS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN THE OVERHEATING OF THE MODULE AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *YH
20000920ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS IN HOT WEATHER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH INFREQUENT PRESENTS ANY LONG TRIPS. *AK
20000905TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION. BUT, TIRE DID NOT FLATTEN OUT RIGHT AWAY. FIRESTONE FR505 P215/70 R15. *AK
20000209FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
REAR BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO CORROSION. THIS CAUSED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND LOSS OF REAR BRAKES. ALSO, FUEL RETURN LINE IS CORRODING. DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. *AK
19990829CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1ST TIME-PUT ON BRAKES, CAR KEPT GOING. SLAMMED ON BRAKES WHICH LOCKED AND SCREECHED, BUT CAR KEPT ON GOING. REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE. @ND TIME- CAR KEPT GOING FASTER. TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BUT CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED. PUT FOOT ON BRAKES. SLOWED DOWN ONLY A LITTLE. AS SOON AS FOOT OFF BRAKES, CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKES WITH ONLY SOME SLOWING. SEMI-TRUCK STOPPED, BUT I COULDN'T. SWERVED JUST IN TIME. CROSS TRAFFIC SO SWERVED INTO MOBILE GAS STATION. SLOWER BUT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO AVOID RUNNING INTO BUILDING. GARAGE COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. LEFT AT L.J. FORD IN COLTON FOR 12 DAYS. ALSO COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND CAR PAST WARRANTY SO COULD DO NOTHING. CAR VERY UNSAFE. SCARED TO DRIVE! NEED A CAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO? PLEASE ADVISE!!! CALLED AAA WHO REFERRED ME TO OTHER AGENCIES WHO REFERRED ME TO MORE AGENCIES WHO COULD NOT HELP ME.SLOWING.
19990618FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CAR WAS OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. STARTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO START ENGINE BY ITSELF. NOBODY WAS IN THE CAR. CAR BURNED TO GROUND. *AK
19990420SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
COSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO HANGING UP AND NOT BRAKING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE OVERDRIVE HUNG UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP'S #800-683-5112---WORLD FORD DEALERSHIP, HOMESTEAD, PA. CONSUMER. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING, GAUGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, FULL TANK IS REGISTERING (E) EMPTY. *AK
19990420POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
COSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO HANGING UP AND NOT BRAKING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE OVERDRIVE HUNG UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP'S #800-683-5112---WORLD FORD DEALERSHIP, HOMESTEAD, PA. CONSUMER. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING, GAUGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, FULL TANK IS REGISTERING (E) EMPTY. *AK
19990420FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
COSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED DUE TO HANGING UP AND NOT BRAKING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE OVERDRIVE HUNG UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP'S #800-683-5112---WORLD FORD DEALERSHIP, HOMESTEAD, PA. CONSUMER. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING, GAUGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, FULL TANK IS REGISTERING (E) EMPTY. *AK
19990209CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A POLE, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED.*AK
19990128FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE PARKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE ALTENATOR WIRING HARNESS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19990121CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP AND PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 40 MPH. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A METAL POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
19990121CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED AUTOMOBILE UP AND IT TOOK OFF BY ITSELF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. VEHICLE HIT A POLE, INJURING THE DRIVER'S WIFE. *AK
19990112STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
19990112SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCKS FAILED CAUSING LEAKING.
Compare 1990FORDCROWN VICTORIA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA have?▼
The 1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA has 58 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 9 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.